Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

It is apparent in the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles, especially that to the Hebrews, that at the first preaching of the Gospel, there were very many Jews who came over to the faith and profession of it. Many of these continued zealous of the Law, and would bring along with them all their Mosaical Institutions, which they thought were to abide in force for ever. In this weakness and mis-apprehension, they were forborne in the patience of God, and wisdom of the Holy Ghost, guiding the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ. In this state things continued unto the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, when the chiefest cause of their contests was taken away. In the mean time they carried themselves very variously, according to the various tempers of their minds. For it is apparent that some of them were not content themselves to be indulged in their opinions and practices, but they endeavoured by all means to impose the observance of the whole Mosaical Law on the Churches of the Gentiles. Their Circumcision, their Sabbaths, their Feasts and Fasts, their Abstinences from this or that kind of meats, they were contending about, and thereby perverting the minds of the Disciples. Some stop was put to the evil consequences hereof in the Synod at Jerusalem, Acts 15. which yet determined nothing concerning the Jews own practice, but only concerning the liberty of the Gentile-Believers.

It is apparent in the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles, especially that to the Hebrews, that at the first preaching of the Gospel, there were very many Jews who came over to the faith and profession of it. Many of these continued zealous of the Law, and would bring along with them all their Mosaical Institutions, which they thought were to abide in force for ever. In this weakness and mis-apprehension, they were forborn in the patience of God, and wisdome of the Holy Ghost, guiding the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ. In this state things continued unto the destruction of Hierusalem and the Temple, when the chiefest cause of their contests was taken away. In the mean time they carried themselves very variously, according to the various tempers of their minds. For it is apparent that some of them were not content themselves to be indulged in their opinions and practices, but they endeavoured by all means to impose the observance of the whole Mosaical Law on the Churches of the Gentiles. Their Circumcision, their Sabbaths, their Feasts and Fasts, their Abstinences from this or that kind of meats, they were contending about, and thereby perverting the minds of the Disciples. Some stop was put to the evil consequences hereof in the Synod at Hierusalem,